SQL Servers – Database Management
Data is a crucial asset when running a business.
Day to day business operations can generate a wealth of data, ranging from customer records, business transactions and invoices, through to product inventories, payroll, and much more. This generated data can be analysed to gain insights about the workings of a business, which can be invaluable to decision-makers when setting business direction and strategy.
Given its importance, it is vital that business data is stored safely, securely and is readily available when it is needed. This is the role of a database system.
What is a database?
A database is a collection of structured data which is stored electronically on a computer system. This data is controlled by a database management system (DBMS) which manages access to the data, allowing it to be retrieved or updated as required. The DBMS and the underlying data are referred to as a database system (or just database).
There are many different types of database, but the most common is the relational database. In a relational database, data is structured into multiple tables. These tables are inter-related so that one table may reference another, allowing for the efficient storage, processing, and retrieval of data.
There are many different relational database products out there to choose from, such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL and many others. Most relational databases use Structured Query Language (SQL) to query, retrieve and update data.
What is SQL?
SQL is a programming language designed for managing data held in a relational database. It is an international standard maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) under ISO/IEC 9075.
Using SQL as part of a relational database offers a number of benefits:
- Efficient query processing – SQL databases are structured so can retrieve large data sets in a matter of seconds.
- Consistency – SQL allows constraints to be added to data, to prevent inconsistent or poor-quality data to be stored.
- Easy to learn – SQL queries are written in easily understandable phrases (such as SELECT, INSERT, DELETE or UPDATE) and has simple, easy to understand syntax.
- Standardised – SQL is an international standard, which is well established and well-documented.
- Scalability – for businesses with growing data needs, SQL databases can be scaled up to provide more data processing
- Availability – some SQL databases, such as MS SQL Server can be clustered, to prevent downtime in the event of hardware or software failure.
- Reporting – complex queries can be generated which can be used by reporting tools (such as Power BI), allowing data to be visualised to uncover insights and inform decision-making.
- Integration – SQL databases can integrate with other software applications to ensure the data is available wherever it is needed.
- Security – access controls can be added to ensure that sensitive data can only be accessed by authorised users.
Data safety – databases can be easily backed up so that data can be restored in the event of a disaster or critical hardware failure, helping organisations quickly restore mission-critical data.
How Savant Can Help Your Organisation with Database Management
At Savant, we have over forty years of experience with working with relational databases for a range of clients in the industry, finance, and healthcare sectors.
With our experience, we can work with you to create a tailored database solution that suits the needs of your business. If you have an existing database system, we can help optimise your data to ensure maximum performance. We can provide ongoing support in the day-to-day operation of your database system.
We also write tailored software solutions that can help you get the best use of your data.
To find out more about what we can do for you, get in touch with our team today.
Savant are members of the Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) Savant’s Profile
Savant are members of the UK Oracle User group UKOUG
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